KABUL (PAN): A special court has been established to investigate cases linked to the 2010 parliamentary election, an official of the Supreme Court said on Monday.

Last week, the Supreme Court sent a proposal to the Presidential Palace about the setting up of such a court which could deliberate on disputes within the election.

President Hamid Karzai approved the proposal on Sunday, the head of the publication department of the Supreme Court, Abdul Wakil Omari, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

"The special court contains five members," he said.

According to Omari, the head of Kabul appellant court, Sadiqullah Haqiq, was appointed to lead the new court. He would be joined by the head of Baghlan appellant court, Abdul Rahim Karimi, the head of Jawzjan appellant court, Fazal Rahman Fazli, the public security department head of the Kabul appellant court, Muhammad Safa Karimi and the public security department head of the Supreme Court, Dil Muhammad Mostashar.

"The judges will travel from the provinces today and will start their duty tomorrow," he said.

The Attorney General’s office sent 232 election cases 20 days ago to the Supreme Court after a 35 day investigation, asking the court to annul the final election result. The prosecutor also asked for a recount of the votes by an impartial commission and the punishment of 14 members of the election commissions who are accused of fraud.

The Attorney General said irregularities and fraud in the election had reached its peak and had affected the validity of the election outcome.

There are 24 days left before the establishment of a new Parliament which would be a short time for the court to investigate the cases.

"It is premature to say anything about it," Omary said when asked if he thought the court would finish all the cases in time.

myn/cas